plant. We held this position until the now backwards 1842 returned some 30 minutes later, headed back for Tillson- burg. Just as we began the pursuit, once again my phone rang and in- formed us of a change of plans in the OSR operation for the day. The single GP-7 would be making a trip to the OSR’s end of St. Thomas, some few hours earlier than previously expect- ed. So after three sets on the east- bound Trillium, we somewhat reluc- tantly broke off, and headed back to Ingersoll and a meet with the OSR. We found them and made our first

set at Putnam and the low speed chase was on. Several successful sets were made on the westbound move, and the train serviced the customer at St. Thomas, delivered its interchange cars, and was soon headed back for Ingersoll. We got it as desired, including a shot where it is necessary to walk out onto a golf course. That finished off the OSR for the day, so we went back to Zorra on the CP main line, and were pleased to hear Extra 9008 west was approaching again. The “red barns” are fairly rare, so we were quite glad to nail this shot. Soon thereafter the sky became very

dark, and tornado warnings were is- sued. We retired to Montana’s steak- house for a fine dinner, and soon there- after to the motel. Then the storms broke, and several hours of heavy thun- der storm activity commenced, which soon knocked out the motel’s Internet, so we retired early.

DAY 6: Thursday, August 25 We had decided that today would be

the day for us to make the 40 mile jaunt up to Guelph Junction and spend the day with the Guelph Junction Rail- way, which is operated by the Ontario Southland. We hoped that RS-18 181 would back in service. Of course on the way we set up to shoot VIA’s first east- bound at Creditville, still hoping for that elusive Coors unit. We got the train, but not with the right engine. We arrived in Guelph and were disap- pointed to discover that the power would be the ex-CP chop-nose GP-9u 8235 and RS-23 506, the “Black Beau- ty.” I knew from past experience that the Geep would remain ahead in both directions. Soon enough the chase was on and

we caught them south of Corwin, where the storm had knocked out the crossing signals, and they had to stop and flag protect the crossing. Then we proceed- ed rapidly to allow enough time for us to walk in and get a shot at a wooden pile trestle on the outskirts of Guelph that I had long wanted to do. In the past I had failed to beat the train by seconds, but this time we made it. Next, we went into downtown Guelph and set up at the bridge where the Goderich &#38; Exeter crosses overhead,